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A London-based firm that plans to create industrial sugars that will in turn be used to make environmentally friendly plastics and chemicals received a $10.9-million grant Friday as the federal Liberals doled out $206 million to three dozen “clean technology” projects nationwide.

Comet Biorefining, based at London’s Stiller Centre, is building a biomass plant in Sarnia where it will turn things such as cornstalks and straw into sugar, leading to green products.

It’s believed the government funding will allow Comet to develop and demonstrate their technology before taking it to market.

It’s a worthy investment, said a local Liberal MP.

“This is an investment in innovation, in clean technology, and this is really important because we need to make sure we have a sustainable environment,” said Peter Fragiskatos, who represents London North Centre.

“The way to get there is through sustainable environmental practices. And this creates jobs, as well.”

Richard, Comet’s founder, is a London native who studied chemical engineering and attained an MBA at Western University. He founded his company in 2009 with the goal of converting biomass, such as agricultural or forest waste, into usable products.

In a Free Press interview last month, he said he was unsure how many people would be hired to work at the plant in Sarnia’s TransAlta Energy Park. The plan is to produce 27 million kilograms of dextrose sugar syrup annually from corn stalks and wheat straw taken from local farms.

Sarnia farmer Dave Core is president of a farmers’ group forming to supply plant material to the plant.

“It’s a boost in the arm for the Sarnia area, too, that the government has confidence in our area to be part of this emerging bio-economy.”